Jones: RNH's adventure just starting

Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has had a busy 18th year, which saw him go from playing with the Red Deer Rebels, to spending a season in the NHL and getting an invitation to represent Canada at the World Hockey Championships. (Edmonton Sun file)

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He spent his last day as an 18-year-old and his birthday with Rebels Justin Weller, Josh Cowan, Brett Ferguson and Daulton Siwak in Red Deer.

“I’m just hanging out. We hung out a bit around town and now we’re hanging out at a bit of a party my billets, Craig and Kim Nykyforuks are having for me,” he said, returning the columnist’s call at 8 p.m.

“I didn’t get much time with these guys during the season. I only came down to Red Deer three times. I didn’t see any of their games. And the Nykyforuks are awesome.”

Like the guy who wore No. 99 on his back and went to high school here in his year here playing in the WHA, it takes a 19th birthday to remind you how young the youngest member of the Edmonton Oilers, at least until the arrival of Nail Yakupov, actually is.

Nugent-Hopkins shares the same birthday as Magnus Paajarvi, who turned 21 Thursday.

“That does seem pretty weird at times,” he admitted.

“I’ve been hanging out with older guys in Edmonton.”

He says celebrating his birthday really emphasized to him how much has happened to him since his last one.

“I really feel lucky I had the chance to play with the Oilers this year.”

Nugent-Hopkins, who tied for the rookie scoring title with 52 points in an 18-goal season in which he missed 20 games, has played in 21 of the buildings in the league.

“Going to all those cities, first of all, that was really cool. And the different rinks with all the different atmospheres.

“I liked Chicago, Montreal and Boston best.”

And the great first-time-around adventure isn’t over.

Team Canada GM Kevin Lowe said the Team Canada Olympic management team was all-in to have Nugent-Hopkins on this team.

He said when RNH’s initials came up there wasn’t really any discussion.

“I don’t recall any objections. The Olympic staff were all in favour.

“Our management team is using these next two worlds to look at potential players, coaches and staff for Sochi 2014,” said Lowe, who is expected to name the coaches and staff by Monday, latest.

And it’s not like this team, unlike many of the ones put together by his predecessors, isn’t lacking for talent. Lowe, as he predicted, didn’t have to go begging to put this team together.

Of the first 17 to sign up — and the late date of the tournament opening on May 4 this year allows plenty of time to add players from the eight teams who exit after the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs — there’s already no lack of profile players.

“It was really exciting to be playing against those guys this year. Now it’s going to be really cool to play with them.”

Only one of them, Ted Percell of Tampa Bay, has never worn the Team Canada uniform before. Perry and Getzlaf won Olympic gold medals. Bouwmeester, Pheneuf and Ward have won world championships. The majority have played in the world junior.

Nugent-Hopkins didn’t make the world junior team two years ago. But he did play for Canada at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, scoring the winning goal in the gold medal game against the USA.

“Actually, I scored that goal at about the two minute mark. We won the game 1-0.”